ETRAC WEIGHT

Bryanhashemi · Feb 7, 2013

hey guys, getting my etrac tom! Ive heard alot about the weight of the etrac being a problem. How heavy could it actually be? lets say the weight of the v3i compared to an etrac. whats the weight difference there? Any thoughts?

earthmansurfer · Feb 7, 2013

I have had both machines you mentioned (still have the E-Trac) and the V3i on my kitchen scale was around .5 pounds heavier (Yes, Kellyco's numbers are wrong). Some people have said the V3i is better balanced and others have said the E-Trac is better balanced. I like the E-Trac better but part of that (outside the weight) is that the V3i has that bigger box in the back and you have to slightly keep the unit farther from your body to swing it imo. Bigger to me is that each of us have certain sensitivities - be it a sensitive back or muscles or elbow, etc and for me the E-Trac was better but BOTH were poor overall. Each machine hits each of us differently.

All that said, I found both machines too heavy AND poorly balanced. I'm just about finished with my E-Trac mod (putting it on a straight shaft) and hopefully that fixes things. If your back, elbow, etc. are not sensitive to weight and repitition you might be ok though. I'm in very good shape but old injuries caught up with me a bit. I hope they re-do the E-Trac and balance it more like the CTX as even though it is heavy, the balance is spot on.

Good luck,
Albert

makoracer · Feb 7, 2013

I have an etrac and ctx both and oddly enough I hate the balance of the ctx. With the etrac I can hunt all day and my arm doesnt bother me, with the ctx my arm gets sore in an hour or so.

Brad

cudamark · Feb 7, 2013

If you get a sling for it, you can reduce or eliminate most of the weight problem. Balance is a different story.

fella · Feb 7, 2013

ONE of the reasons I got rid of my ET was because of it's weight. Not the weight itself but rather how it's balanced. It's horrible.

Others have 90yo paraplegic grandmothers with osteoporosis that can swing em all day long. Blah blah blah!

Sovereignelite · Feb 7, 2013

I think that is the solution for any good detector that is too heavy or not balanced well. I bought one of the super simple Detecting Buddy straps and now my detector weighs nothing. I have a Sovereign GT on an S-shaft with the UK style 180 meter,Sunray probe and Lesche digger attached! Saves on having a bunch of junk hanging all over your waist other than a finds pouch. It slips off in 2 seconds slips on as quickly and as easily. I wonder why so many people with heavy or unbalanced machines have NOT tried this approach. I would hate to get rid of a machine I loved without trying something else.

cudamark said:
If you get a sling for it, you can reduce or eliminate most of the weight problem. Balance is a different story.

Bart@Big Boys Hobbies · Feb 8, 2013

If your gonna compare the V3i and Minelab E Trac you will be greatly surprised in balance.

cudamark · Feb 8, 2013

Sovereignelite said:
I think that is the solution for any good detector that is too heavy or not balanced well. I bought one of the super simple Detecting Buddy straps and now my detector weighs nothing. I have a Sovereign GT on an S-shaft with the UK style 180 meter,Sunray probe and Lesche digger attached! Saves on having a bunch of junk hanging all over your waist other than a finds pouch. It slips off in 2 seconds slips on as quickly and as easily. I wonder why so many people with heavy or unbalanced machines have NOT tried this approach. I would hate to get rid of a machine I loved without trying something else.

Yup, that's the one I have also. It's simple, cheap, and works good.

fella · Feb 8, 2013

Bart@Big Boys Hobbies said:
If your gonna compare the V3i and Minelab E Trac you will be greatly surprised in balance.

How so? Are you suggesting that the ET is balanced better?
I have a VX3 and it is head and shoulders better than the ET I had as far as weight distribution and ease of handling. Not even remotely close.

robertj298 · Feb 8, 2013

fella said:
How so? Are you suggesting that the ET is balanced better?
I have a VX3 and it is head and shoulders better than the ET I had as far as weight distribution and ease of handling. Not even remotely close.

I really don't see what all the fuss is about over weight and balance with any of the newer detectors. I started detecting swinging an old whites 6000 d series 2 all day and any of the new detectors seem light as feather commissars to it.